What Is Counseling?
Counseling helps you define goals, make decisions, and solve
problems. Counselors, because of their extensive training in
psychology and human behavior, have a broad range of experience
working with many different situations related to personal,
educational, and career concerns.
Counseling can be simply sharing your thoughts and feelings in
confidence with a trained counselor who is objective and a good
listener. This is often helpful when you have a decision to make.
Sometimes counseling may help you to change your behavior in order
to deal more effectively with a problem. You may become aware of
strengths and potentials you can use to your benefit.
At other times, counseling may help by giving you certain types of
information, or by teaching you new skills. Counseling may help you
to see yourself and others in a different light.
Counseling is not always easy. Successful counseling may mean that
you will become aware of feelings and behaviors that are not
particularly comfortable or effective for you. But with the help
and support of a trained counselor, you can learn to confront such
feelings and behaviors so that you can make changes that will lead
to a more satisfying life.
When Should I Seek Counseling?
People usually come to counseling because they want to feel better
about themselves or their relationships with others. Specifically,
they may want to work on:
- Enhancing their ability to cope more effectively with anxiety
and stress
- Overcoming feelings of depression
- Dealing with feelings of hopelessness and feeling that life is
not worth living
- Improving relationships with friends, family, and significant
others
- Overcoming loneliness and shyness
- Increasing self-confidence and assertiveness
- Dealing with drug and alcohol abuse
- Clarifying values and priorities
- Dealing with the death of a loved one
- Eating problems
- Health concerns
- Physical or learning disability
- Inability to concentrate and study
- Not knowing where they are going with their life
What Can I Expect from Counseling?
You can expect someone who is interested in listening to your
concerns and in helping you develop a better understanding of them
so that you may deal with them more easily and effectively. Your
counselor will take you seriously and will be willing to openly
talk about anything you wish to discuss. Although counselors may
differ somewhat in their approaches, there are certain similarities
which characterize the helping relationship. In the beginning stage
of counseling, your counselor will ask you about your concerns to
gain a deeper understanding of you and your issues. As counseling
proceeds, trust between you and your counselor builds and a working
partnership is developed. Using a variety of approaches, your
counselor will help you to explore your feelings, make your own
decisions, and resolve your concerns.
What About Confidentiality?
All information disclosed in counseling will be kept confidential
with the exception of information related to danger to self or
others, or to the abuse of a child or incapacitated adult.
Myths About Counselingmyth: Counseling is only for people who have
emotional problems.
fact: While counseling does deal with people who
have emotional problems it can also help:
- Individuals who just want to understand themselves better
- Individuals who have difficulty being assertive
- Students having problems with grades and tests and/or are on
academic probation
- Students having difficulty juggling school, work, or family
responsibilities
- Students trying to "fit in" and adjust to their new
surroundings
myth: People in counseling are inherently
weak.
fact: There is nothing weak about a person who
enters counseling. The individuals who enter counseling are, in
fact, taking the first step in solving their difficulties. A lot of
people would view this as having strength and courage.
myth: Change is simple.
fact: Change is not always simple and may take
time and energy to happen. Counseling is not a "quick fix" cure for
your problems.
myth: The counselor is your "psychic" who tells
you what to do with your life and how to "fix" your problems.
fact: A counselor is NOT there to TELL you how to
solve your problems or to offer you advice. The counselor IS there
to help you achieve the goals you set and help you resolve your
problems.
How Do I Get Started?
If you feel you would benefit from a counseling relationship,
contact your local Community Mental Health Office, local Catholic
Charities organization, or a leader in your faith community for
referrals.
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